Fact Sheet 3 - Work Zone Safety Awareness Week
July 2000
State
and local transportation agencies around the nation joined the Federal
Highway Administration (FHWA) in a partnership with over 30 other organizations
to sponsor National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. The April 2-8,
2000, campaign sought to raise drivers’ awareness of hazards encountered
when driving through highway construction and maintenance work zones.
Nearly 800 fatal and over 37,000 serious injury crashes occur annually
in work zones. In addition, congestion and delays are on the rise across
the nation in highway construction and maintenance work zones.
A successful team effort kicked off Connecticut’s Work Zone Safety Awareness Week where the Department of Transportation (ConnDOT), Department of Motor Vehicles (ConnDMV), Department of Public Safety (ConnDPS), and their industry partners from the Connecticut Construction Industries Association (CCIA), construction unions, and the DOT maintenance union showcased “Operation Big Orange” to reporters. This police enforcement effort is designed to reduce speeds through construction and maintenance work zones. Reporters were also given an opportunity to see how Variable Message Signs and Highway Advisory Radio are used to alert motorists to highway work zones or traffic incidents.
 Displaying Connecticut’s strong yellow-green worker safety vest and cap are (l) James Sullivan, Commissioner, ConnDOT, and (r) Carl Gottshall, Assistant Division Administrator, FHWA, Connecticut Division Office. |
ConnDOT purchased about $180,000 worth of radio and television airtime for work zone safety messages. Forty-two radio stations aired 10-second spots following their traffic reports. Five television stations aired 30-second spots of the “At the Office” video. Another video, produced by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and Carolina’s Associated General Contractors (AGC), titled “A Sudden Change of Plans,” was customized for Connecticut viewers and distributed to driving schools and shown at the Connecticut Bituminous Concrete Annual Conference. ConnDOT also announced and publicized Connecticut’s adoption of the strong yellow-green worker safety vests. The American Traffic Safety Services Association (ATSSA) took part in the observance by conducting Safety Workshops for ConnDOT’s construction and maintenance employees.
According to the FHWA’s Connecticut Division Office, the campaign was a coordinated educational, enforcement, and engineering effort. “We went a step beyond just using the national materials for this campaign.” All the materials were customized for Connecticut, and information was displayed on billboards, rest areas, truck stops, schools, transit buses, public libraries, and the Internet.
Other States related similar success stories from their events:
Alabama
The Statewide campaign combined information and handouts from the national
program with the Alabama slogan “People Work There.” Commercials
and public service announcements ran throughout the week, and actual
work zone stories were presented on morning news programs.
 The video “A Sudden Change of Plans” was produced by NCDOT and Carolina’s AGC. |
Arizona
The Arizona DOT (ADOT) held a press conference overlooking an interstate
work zone in Phoenix. Two ADOT maintenance employees involved in a work
zone crash related their stories to the media. Additionally, ADOT was
successful in an outreach program to area schools where the video “A
Sudden Change of Plans” was distributed, along with posters and
fact sheets.
Georgia
In coordination with National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, Georgia
DOT unveiled a $1 million public relations and advertising campaign,
using the slogan “Slow Down. It Won’t Kill You.” This
campaign is designed to inform motorists of the dangers they face while
driving through work zones and of the danger speeding motorists present
to construction and maintenance workers.
Maryland
The Maryland State Highway Administration and the Maryland Transportation
Authority partnered on an event and sponsored a number of outreach sessions
at public schools throughout the State. During these sessions, the video
“A Sudden Change of Plans” was shown and discussed. Some
presenters had personal experience with work zone accidents. Other presenters
included traffic engineers and construction personnel.
 Motorists are informed about National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. |
Virginia
The Virginia DOT (VDOT) launched a comprehensive campaign for its third
straight year. In partnership with the Virginia Road and Transportation
Builders Association, VDOT coordinated a campaign targeting drivers
and highway workers with the message of team work in highway construction
zones. NASCAR driver Jeff Burton was featured in radio and TV public
service announcements with a safety message. Safety breaks held at rest
areas and at park and ride lots for the public were a big success. VDOT
provided refreshments and prepared displays, banners, and handouts for
these events. Letters to the editors from VDOT resident engineers and
district administrators were printed in weekly and daily newspapers
around the State. In addition to its State campaign, VDOT hosted the
Press Conference of National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week at a hotel
near the site of the Springfield interchange where major highway construction
is underway.
To Learn more, contact:
Arthur W. Gruhn
Construction Administrator
Connecticut Department of Transportation
2800 Berlin Turnpike
Newington, CT 06131
Phone: 860-594-2680
E-mail: arthur.gruhn@po.state.ct.us
Robert Ramirez
ITS & Traffic Operations Engineer
Federal Highway Administration
628-2 Hebron Avenue, Suite 303
Glastonbury, CT 06033-500
Phone: 860-659-6703, ext. 3004
E-mail: Robert.Ramirez@fhwa.dot.gov
To share your Best Practices, contact:
Phillip Ditzler
Federal Highway Administration
400 Seventh Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: 202-366-0855
Email: Phillip.Ditzler@fhwa.dot.gov
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
Publication No. FHWA-OP-00-024
